With mixed opinions on previous Towns Fund investments, the council has asked the public which areas of Rotherham should receive funding. 

These upcoming investments aim to ‘enhance public spaces that are important to communities’. 

Jess Fish, 26, grew up in Rotherham. She said: “The town has some beautiful buildings and features but overall I just feel it doesn’t have much going for it. There’s no unique high street shops or places to eat.” 

The investment is part of the ‘Our Places’ fund, which encourages people to send photos to the council of areas they feel need improving across the borough. 

This comes after the council received £31.6 million following a successful application to the Towns Fund in January 2021. 

The council allocated some of this towards new footpaths, seating and plants in West Melton, and new surfacing and industrial cleaning in Wickersley. They have called their investments a ‘success’. 

However, this has not been echoed by all residents. Fiona Alderton, 57, from Whiston, Rotherham, said: “I don’t really go to town. The centre is made up of mainly just barbers and nail shops now. 

“It needs massive regeneration. I don’t know where they would start though. It needs some big changes.” 

The public have until 17 November to submit their recommendations. The consultation link can be found here.

The decision to agree where the investment will be received and what it will go towards is due on 16 December by the Council Cabinet.